The year is 2008, and rising star Danny Cipriani has been called into the side to face Scotland in the Six Nations. People are talking. Two days before the match he is axed after being spotted in a night club…people are still talking, but the nature of the conversation is very different…

There are many words and phrases that describe Sam Burgess. Read any article about him and you will likely find him referred to as a ‘beast’ or a ‘man mountain’, or any other numerous ways of trying to get across what a unique physical specimen and gifted rugby player he is.

One phrase that does not describe Burgess, though, is one of the best centres in England.

How does the World Cup experience manifest itself for those nations likely to be scrapping at the other end of the table? In fact ‘scrapping’ does them a disservice, for even writing the word reinforces the idea of a wise old ceiling existing between the guppies and the sharks that can have as much ‘pluck’ and ‘heart’ thrown at it as it wants…it won’t break.

Props Les pilier as they are called in France; props are the pillars, the anchors, the foundations, or indeed any number of metaphors and clichés of your choosing. All of which are similarly designed...